Mimi Codd

March, Week 2

Have started a new carrot bed along the left border for some garden delineation and to provide a deep planting space. Have sown 3cm squares of two varieties, Nantes 5 and Autumn King, and will do another 2-3 rounds of sowing at various points in the season.

March, Week 4

Carrots were left to germinate with no special tricks and appeared after about 20 days of wet weather.

We decided to try a selection of different carrot varieties this year, in various colours. As we had poor germination from a set of mixed colour carrot seeds in 2021 I opted to purchase seeds of different varieties and sow them in sections of a full carrot bed. Most grew well, and the white Creampak variety perhaps grew a little too well, producing some carrots the size of large parsnips, but they grew with smooth skin and were flawless.

Solid, orange roots. Tapered end, classic carrot. Good reliable size and shape.

Smooth, solid carrots, don’t require peeling.

Nicely shaped carrots, a little smaller than some of the other varieties.

Blunt-ended, solid carrots. Grew brilliantly.

Slightly under-germinated, but those that grew, grew well. A strong purple colour throughout which leaches into the water when boiling. Roast to maintain colour.

Abysmal Germination. A complete failure.